Grading apparatus



Aug. 3o, 1927. u N.G MORGAN GRADING lAPPARA'IUS Filed Dec, 5. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug' 30 1927 I N. G. MORGAN `GRADING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5. 1925 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 Q l Z D l) D000 o onoooooouuuoo o c u n120000 u o o o non N. G. MORGAN GRADING APPARATUS Aug. v30, 1927.

` 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Deo. 5. 1925 Oouoooovowcoooo o ovocowbuouu Qovtwooooooonoooo ovouoooeuou noon o 0000 OOUUUUOUU Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED sTArEs nanars GQMOBGAN,

or GALVA, ILLINOIS.y

GRADING APPARATUS.

v Application filed December This invention relates to Va gradi-ng apparatus and more particularly to a screen- Y ing device for grading seed corn.

It is an object 'of this invention. to provide Compact screening` means for efficient-ly screening seed corn as to size of kernel. i It is a further object of this invention to provide a grading apparatus comprising a plurality of screening compartments superposed one above the other wherein the screening is accomplished by means of vertical screening plates.

ItV is a further object of this invention to provide a grading apparatus for seed corn 'comprising a vertical' screening means provided with a lateral shaking mechanism and means for preventingl the screening means from becoming clogged.` j

Other and further 'important' objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specication and the accompanyingdrawings; u f

This invent'on (ina preerred'` form) is illustrated in thedrawings and hereinafter more fully described.'

, On the drawings: f v i Figure 1 is a top'plan'view of a grading apparatus embodying the principles Aof invention. .Y y *i Figure 2 is a broken sectional view taken on line II--II of Figure 1.

Figure 3' is a sectional. vi line III-III .of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a broken top plan view of a modified form'oi1 my invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figure 4,'with parts broken away and in section. As. shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 in Figures l to 3 inclusive indicates a supporting'f'raine comprising corner posts 2, side bars 3 and .4 and end bars 5 and 6'. Parallel with the side bar ew taken on the 4 there is mounted a driving'shaft 7 supported in bearings 8 tromthe posts 2. At one end. of they shaft 7 there is secured thereto a driving pulley 9 runt from any suitable source; of' power. An eccentri-crod 10 is ses, 1925. serial No. 73,330.

cured to the shaft 7 intermediate its ends and connected by means of a connecting rod 11 to a suspended frame or cradle 12. Said frame 12 is suspended from the bars 5 and 6 by vmeans of relatively flexible angle yrods 13. The frame 12 is rectangular in shape and formed of side bars 14 and 15 and'end 55 bars k16 and 17 joined therewith. The angle rods 13 are swiveled at their respective ends to the bars 5 and 6 and to the frame end bars. 16 and 17 to allow the frame 12 to be shaken laterally by means of the crank 10 60 and'connecting rod 11, said rod 11 being pivotally secured to the side bar 15 of said i'rame 12. l

A screening mechanism 18 is supported by means of the suspended frame 12 land 65 comprises a narrow rectangular shaped box, suitably formed of sheet metal and extendingsubstantially the height of the supporting frame 1. One end of said screening mechanism 18 is provided with a flaring 70 spout 19 into which the material to be graded may be poured. The other endof said screening mechanism 18 is formed into a bottom discharge spout 21. said spout being boltedv to the end bark 17. Saidendsr as v well as the top and the bottom of the screening mechanism 18 are imperforate, but the sides 21 thereof are provided with parallel rows of perforations 22 extending substantially the lengthV of the sides. Dividing successivesets of pertorations 22 are aplurality of parallel spaced imperf'orate partitions 23 extending horizontally between the sides 21 to which they are secured by lateral .flanges 24. Said partitions 28 as well as the 85 bottom of the screening mechanism 18 are preferably inclined from the intake spout endy downwardly toward the discharge end. Bracey rods 25 extend from the ends of the bars'16 and 17 to the top of the screening 90 mechanism 18 to rigidly brace the same.

A pair of spaced longitudinal guide rails 26 extend between the bars 5 and 6 to which they are attached on each side of the spout 19. A block 27 is mounted for sliding move- 95 .ment upon saidl guide rails 26 and is provided in the pcrforations 22. made for sliding the block 27 inthe guide -fro in the arc of a circle. :mechanism 41 1s in general similar to that with a plurality of rods 28 depending from its under side adjacent each side of the screening mechanism 18. ing freely suspended from the block 27 arel adapted to knock against the sides 21 of the screening mechanism` when the same is shaken laterally for the purpose of dislodging any mate 1ial that may ybecome lodged Arrangement is rails 26, comprising a link chain 29 driven over sprockets 30 and connected to-said block by means of a rod 31. Said sprockets 30 are shown mounted on the ends oftheir respective shafts 32 and 33, saidshafts .in turn being supported in bearings 34 and 35, respectively, from` the side bar 4 and a second bar 36 parallel thereto. The shaft 33 is provided with a pulley 37 which may be driven by any suitable source of power.

IIn the modified form of my device shown in Figures 4 and 5 the screening mechanism instead of boing suspended from the top of the supporting frame and shaken laterally, is pivotally mounted at the spout end and shaken through an arc fronl the other end. There is shown a supporting frame 40 in general similar to the frame 1 described, to one end of which is pivotally mounted a Y screening mechanism 41 by means of hinges 42. The other end of said screening mechanism 41 is connected to a shaking mechanism 48. Said shaking mechanism 43 comprises a driven pulley 44 secured to a stub shaft 45 on which is mounted a disk 46` carrying an eccentric pin 47. A connecting link 48 is pivotally connected at its ends to said eccentric pin 47 and to a lug 49 secured to the screening mechanism 41. It is thus "apparent that as the disk 46 is revolved, the screening mechanism 41 is oscillated to and The j screening already described.

`The operation of my grading apparatus "is substantially as follows:

The material to be graded is dumped into the receiving spout 19 either continuously or in small quantities from time to time. The particular material for which my apparatus has been designed is seed corn, but

.itis obvious that the apparatus is adapted to be used in grading other material.` The advantage of grading seed corn lies in the fact that the value of the seed corn depends in, large measure upon vthe size of the kernels, the larger kernels being of .greater value.r rIhe material to be graded, which we may assume by way of example to be corn,

- fallsby gravity into the lowermost screening compartment and when that is: filled,

said material enters the successivelyhigher compartments. kThe laterally shaking movement imparted to the screening mechanism is sufficient to throw the kernels of Said rods 28 be' vbecoming clogged.

corn against the perforated side plates 2.1. Since the perforations 22 are of such suitable size as to allow the smaller ofthe kernels to pass through, separation of these smaller kernels takes place. The larger kernels gradually find their way by gravity down to the discharge spout end of the screening mechanism and are discharged through the spout 20. The smaller screened out kernels on the other hand are separately collected as they fall through the holes 22. To provide 'against these smaller kernels from being stuck in the perforations 22, the rods 28 are adapted to move lengthwise o f thescreening mechanism 18 andv tap the sides 21 of said screening mechanism as the same is shaken from side to side. p

If desired the action v'of my grading apparatus may be supplemented by the provision of means for subjectingthe material to be graded to a blast or current of'air whereby the lighter weight material or part thereof is removed. Y

It is thus seen that I have provided a compact grading apparatus lfor efficiently grading various materials and more partielllarly seed corn. v

*I am aware that many, changes may be made.y and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departingvfrom the'principles ofthis invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherlarly terminating short of both ends of the a box and all of said compartments similarly communicating at their opposite ends fwith said top inlet and bottom discharge spout.

2. A `device of the classdescribed comprising a supporting frame, a shaking frame suspended therefrom, la screening mechanism mounted .on said shaking frame and having perforate vertical sides, means for imparting reciprocating lateral movement to said shaking frame and means adapted4 to be contacted by said screening mechanism due to the lateral movement thereof for preventing the vertical screen members from 3. A lgrading screening box having perforate side walls, means for imparting lateral reciprocating movements to said box, and means spaced from the sides of the box adapted to be apparatus yincluding a contacted by the box sides in its movements, by the box sides in its movements, to preto prevent clogging of the perforatons vent clogging of the perforations thereof, 10 thereof. n and means for shifting said last-named 4L. A grading apparatus including a` means lengthwise of the box during recipscreening box having perforate side' Walls, rocating movements of the box. means for imparting lateral reciprocating In testimonyA whereof I have hereunto movements to said box, means spaced from subscribed my name.

the sides of the box adapted to be contacted NORRIS G. MORGAN. 

